Patent Application
20250221881
This disclosure relates generally to a rollator walker, more specifically, a collapsible locking rollator walker that is hand operated by the user for ease of operation and improved storage.
The aging population often suffers from a multitude of conditions that result in decreased mobility and stability. However, no one wants to voluntarily give up freedom and independence. Mobility aids allow people to maintain an independent lifestyle but need help getting around. Walkers and rollators are two popular devices that aid people who are still able to walk (i.e., don't require a wheelchair) but need assistance. A walker includes a four-legged frame that allows a person to lean on it for balance, support, and rest. A rollator is sometimes called a “wheeled walker” and consists of a frame with at least two wheels in the front as well as two back legs. It may be used for patients who need a walker only for balance but for weight-bearing. A variety of rollators exist in the marketplace to assist people with decreased mobility as they maneuver through their daily routines. Ideally a rollator should be lightweight, compact and safe.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,998,222 discloses a foldable rollator that includes: a main support frame including two spaced-apart front support rods; a rear support frame including two spaced-apart rear support rods pivotally coupled to the front support rods, respectively; a plurality of wheels respectively installed on the main support frame and the rear support rods for rolling on the ground; an intermediate support frame coupled to the main support frame and the rear support frame, including a front support sub-frame pivotally coupled between the front support rods and a rear support sub-frame pivotally coupled between the rear support rods, the front and rear support sub-frames being further pivotally coupled to an axle; a seat unit disposed atop the intermediate support frame; and a backrest unit pivotally coupled to the axle.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,839,571 discloses a foldable rollator, including a folding device, a first rollator body and a second rollator body arranged in a mirror image orientation with respect to one another. The first and second rollator bodies are movably connected with each other through the folding device. Each of the first and second rollator bodies include a gripping part including a supporting bar, a drawing device, and a supporting fastener. The drawing device is positioned on the supporting bar away from the supporting fastener. The gripping part is rotatably connected to the supporting fastener. The supporting fastener is provided with a first and second clamping grooves and the gripping part is orientated perpendicular to and fixed to the supporting fastener when the drawing device is clamped in the first clamping groove. The gripping part is rotationally connected to the supporting fastener when the drawing device is clamped in the second clamping groove.
Presently, what is lacking in the prior art is a lightweight folding rollator assembly with a reliable but also easy to operate locking mechanism.
The present disclosure is an improved collapsible rollator assembly having an improved locking mechanism that is easy to operate while also securing the rollator to prevent it from rolling when the locking mechanism is engaged.
In one embodiment the rollator includes a support structure having two spaced apart front support members that terminate in a pair of wheels and two rear support members, i.e., rearward facing legs. Each of the rear support members are pivotally attached to portions of the front support members, for example by hinge assemblies. The front support members each have a sliding joint member constructed and arranged to slide along the front support members along a portion of its length. A set of crossbar members are pivotally connected at one end to a predetermined point on the front support members in an X-configuration. The set of crossbar members are each pivotally connected at their opposite ends to one of the sliding joint members. Pivotally attached to each sliding joint member and pivotable attached to the two rear support members are a stabilizing support member.
At least one sliding joint member includes a locking mechanism constructed and arranged to be hand operated with a lever by the user. Attached to the end of the front support members are handles. The support structure assembly is constructed and arranged to be pivotably operable between an open position and a closed storage position.
The foregoing features may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings. Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles disclosed herein. The drawings aid in explaining and understanding the disclosed technology. Since it is often impractical or impossible to illustrate and describe every possible embodiment, the provided figures depict one or more exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the figures are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Like numbers in the figures denote like elements. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure.
The examples of the device discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood to one of skill in the art that the apparatus is capable of implementation in other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. As such, the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any references to examples, embodiments, components, elements or acts of the apparatus described herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality, and any references in plural to any embodiment, component, element, or act herein may also embrace embodiments including only a singularity (or unitary structure). Likewise, unitary structures may be configured from multiple parts. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed apparatus, its components, acts, or elements. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The word “or” is construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms.
Referring now to the Figures, disclosed is a foldable rollator assembly 10 comprised of a support structure having two spaced apart front support members 100 and 110 each having a proximal end 102, 112, a distal end 104,114 and two rear support members 120, 130 each having a proximate end 122, 132 and distal end 124, 134. Each of the rear support members 120, 130 proximate ends 102, 112 are pivotally attached to the proximal ends 102, 112 of the front support members 100, 110 with hinge assemblies 123 and 133. The front support members 100, 110 each having a sliding joint member 140, 142 constructed and arranged to slide between the front support members proximal 102, 112 and distal ends 104, 114. A set of crossbar members 150, 160 are pivotally connected at a predetermined location 169, each crossbar member 150, 160 having a proximal end 152, 162 and a distal end 154, 164, respectively.
With continued reference to the Figures, the proximal ends 152, 162 of the set of crossbar members are pivotally connected to proximal ends 102, 112 of the front support members 100, 110 and the distal ends 154, 164 of the crossbar members 150, 160 that are pivotally attached to the sliding joint members 140, 142. Pivotally attached to each sliding joint member 140, 142 and pivotally attached to the two rear support members 120, 130 are two stabilizing support members 170, 172. At least one of the sliding joint members 140, 142 includes a locking mechanism 200 constructed and arranged to be hand operated with a lever 260 by the user. Attached to the proximal ends 102, 112 of each of the front support members are handles 180, 182 that are grasped by the user during use. Attached to the distal ends 104, 114 of each of the front support members 100, 110 are at least one wheel 190, 192. The support structure assembly is constructed and arranged to be pivotably operable between an open position and a closed storage position.
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The present disclosure further includes at least two rear support members 120 and 130 that are angle rearwardly in the present embodiment. At least two additional stabilizing members 170 and 172 are pivotably attached between front support members 100 and 110 and rear support members 120 and 130.
In an exemplary embodiment, the rollator assembly 10 is capable of being locked in the open, operational position. As best shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, the second spring 216 is a torsion spring having ends 220 and 221. Spring end 220 is place in a stationary position contacting side wall 224 of locking assembly 202. Spring end 221 is positioned in contact with protrusion 225 that further comprises cam 210. The torsion spring 216 is constructed and arranged with sufficient spring tension to return cam 210 to the locked position when the user releases handle 260 thereby releasing the tension on spring 212 required to pull the cam 210 into the open position.
A user that desires to unlock the presently disclosed rollator assembly, depresses handle 260, which is mechanically attached to locking mechanism 200 as described herein, thereby releasing the rollator assembly 10 from the locked position.
When an operator desires to unlock the rollator assembly for closure, the operator depresses the cable assembly handle 260, which is positioned at the proximate end 102 of the front support member 100. The assembly constructed and arranged for a user to operate the foldable rollator assembly from the standing position. From a standing position, a user is able to release the locking mechanism 200 with one hand and easily maneuver the rollator to the closed position. The positioning of the cable assembly handle 260 facilitates the operation of the rollator assembly by a user without having to bend over. The ease of operation is desirable for an elderly person, for example, as those individuals often have diminished strength and mobility. The cable assembly includes a cable that is dimensioned so that upon depression of the handle 260 the cable retracts the cam 210 the predetermined distance to rotate the cam through the aperture 207 into the unlocked position. The cable is constructed and arranged to return to its original length through attachment to spring 212.
The support structures of the present disclosure are constructed and arranged to be stored in a compact configuration. Upon release of the locking mechanism 202, support plate 206 which is fixedly attached to sliding joint member 140, slides towards the distal end of front support structure 100. The other half of the rollator assembly has identical support structures and the entire apparatus can be compressed into a compact profile for storage.
The locking mechanism is constructed and arranged to lock the foldable rollator assembly in the operational position. It is also contemplated that the rollator assembly can be locked in the storage position as well. (not shown).
Since the contemplated users of the disclosed invention are people with limited mobility and potentially limited strength, all the support structure components are contemplated to be constructed of lightweight but durable material. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that support structures need to be lightweight but strong enough to support the entire weight of the contemplated user. Material compositions would be adjusted based on the contemplated load on the rollator based upon the height and weigh of individual users. In one embodiment, the support members are hollow tubular structures constructed and arranged to cooperate with accessories such as wheels and handles. For example, the handles 180 and 182 can be removably attached from the front support members 100 and 110 and the wheels can be removably attached from front support members 100 and 110 respectively. The removability of items such as handle and wheels allows for a more compact storage profile.
Having thus described several aspects of at least one disclosed example, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the claims are not to be limited to the specific example(s) depicted herein. For example, the features of one example disclosed above can be used with the features of another example. Furthermore, various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the examples discussed herein. Thus, the details of these components as set forth in the above-described examples should not limit the scope of the claims.
Further, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application nor is intended to be limiting on the claims in any way.
